The British government is set to increase visa fees across most categories of applications from18 March, in a move that will affect thousands of Indians who were the largest group of skilled workers to be granted visas to live and work in Britain last year.
The changes, proposed in January this year, mean a 2 percent rise in most fees, including the short-term visitor visas, work and study applications and a 25 percent increase in fees for nationality and settlement visa applications.
The UK Home Office said the increases will reduce UK taxpayer contributions towards the border, immigration and the citizenship system. It will ensure that by 2019-2020 the system is self-funded by those who use it.
These changes ensure that the Home Office can achieve a self-funding system, whilst continuing to provide a competitive level of service, and a fees structure that remains attractive to businesses, migrants and visitors.Home Office Statement
According to recently-released figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Indians formed the largest group of skilled workers to be granted visas to live and work in the UK last year. Indians bagged the majority of the 92,062 visas issued to skilled migrants in 2015.
Indian nationals accounted for 57 percent of total skilled work visas granted (52,360 of 92,062), with USA nationals the next largest nationality group (10,130 or 11 percent)ONS Report
An increase of up to 25 percent will apply to settlement, residence and nationality fees as these routes deliver the most benefits to successful applicants. Optional premium services offered by the Home Office, such as the super-premium service and priority visa services overseas, will see an increase of up to 33 percent.
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